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The Jacksonville Jaguars have undergone quite a few changes this offseason, with plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball. Not to mention, while Doug Marrone is returning for his fourth full season with the Jaguars, the team hired Jay Gruden as their new offensive coordinator.
Just a season ago, Jacksonville had a few young players that emerged as possible cornerstones for the franchise moving forward. Besides DJ Chark posting his first 1,000-yard season in his second year, Josh Allen proved he can be a mainstay edge rusher for the Jaguars in his rookie season.
Seeing that Jacksonville has parted ways with some of their key contributors from last season, some of their younger players will need to step into crucial roles next season. Following breakout years from Chark and Allen, let's take a look at three players that could do the same for the Jaguars in the 2020 NFL season.
Jaguars breakout candidates: C.J. Henderson
Ahead of the trade deadline last season, the Jaguars elected to send All-Pro Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams. Then, earlier this offseason, Jacksonville proceeded to trade A.J. Bouye to the Denver Broncos.
As a result of Ramsey and Bouye being traded, the Jaguars had two massive voids to fill at the cornerback position. While D.J. Hayden figures to be promoted to a starter, Jacksonville added C.J. Henderson with the No. 9 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
During his time at Florida, Henderson excelled in man-coverage situations, showing that he can use his physicality as a strength. Even though Henderson is a rookie, he'll be quickly thrust into a position to contribute in 2020.
Josh Oliver
Once again, the Jaguars hired Gruden as their new offensive coordinator, prompting some immediate changes to the offense. Besides moving from a power-running scheme to a zone-blocking scheme, Gruden is projected to complete a massive overhaul of the offense.
Early in free agency, the Jaguars brought Tyler Eifert in at tight end, giving Gruden someone he's worked with before. However, Josh Oliver should still have a chance to garner some playing time in 2020.
Oliver, Jacksonville's third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, had his rookie season derailed by injuries. The 23-year-old tight end caught just three passes for 15 yards last season. But with a more pass-oriented offense being put into place next season, Oliver could emerge as a viable pass-catching target for the Jaguars.
Ronnie Harrison
Given the new-look defense of the Jaguars, Ronnie Harrison is expected to become the leader of the secondary in 2020. The third-year safety has shown a ton of promise in his first two seasons. But he'll need to put it all together next season.
Throughout his first two seasons, Harrison has accounted for 103 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and three interceptions. Provided his versatility, Harrison could be a valuable piece for Jacksonville's defense moving forward.
The Jaguars undoubtedly lack experience and continuity in the secondary heading into next season. With that in mind, Harrison should provide Jacksonville with a reliable source of production at safety in 2020.
